Election of Avice As the First Abbess of Malling: Textus Roffensis, Ff

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Election of Avice as the first abbess of Malling: Textus Roffensis, ff. 198r–198v Translated from Latin and edited Dr Chris Monk

Abstract: ‘On the day when Gundulf, bishop of Rochester, gave the abbey of Malling to the nun Avice, the very same nun swore fidelity and subjection to the very same bishop, his successors, and the holy church of Rochester, because she would not be persuaded, either by him or by another person, to dissolve the aforesaid subjection…’

To cite this report: Monk, C. (2017) Election of Avice as the first abbess of Malling: Textus Roffensis, ff. 198r– 198v; Translated from Latin and edited. Rochester: Rochester Cathedral Research Guild.

To link to this article: https://rochestercathedralresearchguild.org/bibliography/2017-18 Published online: 14th December 2017

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Any views and opinions expressed in this work are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of either the Research Guild or the Dean and Chapter. Textus Roffensis, ff. 198r-198v Dr Chris Monk

Textus Roffensis, Rochester, Cathedral Library, MS A. 3. 5, f. 198r

Published online by the Rochester Cathedral Research Guild Page 2 of 5 Textus Roffensis, ff. 198r-198v Dr Chris Monk

Textus Roffensis, Rochester, Cathedral Library, MS A. 3. 5, f. 198v

Published online by the Rochester Cathedral Research Guild Page 3 of 5 Textus Roffensis, ff. 198r-198v Dr Chris Monk

Election of Avice as the first abbess of Malling: Textus Roffensis, ff. 198r–198v.

Date: before 7 March 11081

CONCERNING THE SUBJECTION AND FIDELITY OF THE ABBESS OF MALLING

On the day when Gundulf, bishop of Rochester, gave the abbey of Malling to the nun Avice, the very same nun swore fidelity and subjection to the very same bishop, his successors, and the holy church of Rochester, because she would not be persuaded, either by him or by another person, to dissolve the aforesaid subjection. Moreover, with this oath made, the aforementioned Avice promised to the bishop, by firm and stable covenant, that without his counsel and authority having been given to her in the abbey, she might neither appoint nor depose a prioress, nor accept any nun, nor grant or obtain any land thenceforth.

These were the witnesses, hearing and considering the matter: Ralf the excellent abbot; Ordwin the prior; Paul the secretary; Alfred; Andrew the doctor; Arnulf the bishop’s chaplain; John; Geoffrey; Albert; Odo; Bérenger; William the sub-prior; Humfrey; Arngren;2 Hugo3 the bishop’s nephew; William the young; Ralf the priest; Ansfrid the priest; Goddard the priest; Robert the chamberlain; Hugo4 the chamberlain; Ansfrid Dapifer;5 Humfrey the porter; and many others.

1 Malling Abbey was founded towards the end of the eleventh century, likely after 1090. A charter confirming the foundational grant of land was made during the reign of William II (Rufus), r. 1087–1100, and was witnessed by Ranulf Flambard, bishop of Durham, r. 1099–1128. The completion of the foundation and appointment of Avice cannot be ascertained with absolute confidence, though we can say she was appointed before bishop Gundulf’s death on 7 March 1108. William Dugdale suggests she was appointed when Gundulf was dying: Monasticon Anglicanum: A History of the Abbies and other Monasteries, etc. in England and Wales, vol. 3 (London, 1846), p. 381, n. g. The main scribe copied this document into Textus Roffensis around 1123. For more information on the Benedictine abbey of Malling, including a list of the abbesses, see www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/kent/vol2/pp146-148#fnn37 [accessed 12 December, 2017], though note the mistake regarding the founding of the abbey ‘towards the end of the twelfth century’, when clearly the ‘eleventh century’ was intended. 2 Tentative Anglicised spelling of Ernegrinus. 3 Or, Hugh. 4 Or, Hugh. 5 Or, the steward.

Published online by the Rochester Cathedral Research Guild Page 4 of 5 Textus Roffensis, ff. 198r-198v Dr Chris Monk

Latin text, directly from Textus Roffensis

The digital facsimile of this text is located at: http://luna.manchester.ac.uk/luna/servlet/detail/Man4MedievalVC~4~4~990378~142729?page=0.

Type ‘n403’ into the page search box. The text begins at the top of the right-hand folio and finishes overleaf on the first line.

Editorial notes: the layout approximates that in the manuscript (and thus includes words split over two lines); expansions of Latin abbreviations and contractions are indicated by italics; punctuation has been modernised; capitals have been used for all personal and place-names; coloured font represents coloured ink in the manuscript.

[f.198r] De subiectione et fidelitate abbatissę de Mellingis. ie illa qua Gundulfus Rofensis episcopus abbatiam de Mellingis dedit D sanctimoniali Avitię, eadem sanctimoni- alis eidem episcopo, eiusque successoribus, et sanctę Ro- fensi ęcclesię, iurauit fidelitatem, et subiectionem, et quia nec per se, nec per aliam perso- nam, praedictam subiectionem dissoluere tempta- ret. Hoc autem facto sacramento, praedicta Auitia episcopo firma et stabili conuentione promisit, quia sine eius consilio et licentia, in abbatia sibi data, priorem nec poneret nec deponeret, nec ullam sanctimonialem reciperet nec terram inde daret uel auferret. Huius rei testes fuerunt isti audientes et ui- dentes: Radulfus abbas belli, Orduuinus prior, Paulinus secretarius, Alueredus, An- dreas medicus, Arnulfus capellanus episcopi, I ohannes, Goisfridus, Albericus, Odo, Berin- garius, Willelmus subprior, Hunfridus, Ernegri- nus, Hugo nepos episcopi, Willelmus iuuenis, R adulfus clericus, Ansfridus clericus, Godar- dus clericus, Rodbertus camerarius, Hugo camerarius, Ansfridus dapifer, Hunfridus porta-

[f.198v] rius, et alii plures.

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